Image inspection apparatus to detect a defect in a read image

Abstract

An image inspection apparatus is provided for inspecting an image output on a recording medium by scanning the output image. The image inspection apparatus includes an inspection reference image generator to obtain an output-target image print data, and to generate an inspection reference image using the output-target image print data, an inspection result acquisition unit to acquire a result of a defect determination based on a difference between the generated inspection reference image and the read image, a restriction-on-disclosure process unit to change, based on restriction-on-disclosure positional information, which indicates a restricted area in the read image that should be restricted when displayed, a value of a pixel in the restricted area, when a defect is detected in the read image, to generate a corrected image, and an information transmission unit to transmit the corrected image through a network.

The invention claimed is:  
     
       1. An image inspection apparatus for inspecting an image output on a recording medium by scanning the output image as a scanned image, the image inspection apparatus comprising:
 an inspection reference image generator implemented by processing circuitry and configured to obtain an output-target image print data, and to generate an inspection reference image using the output-target image print data, the inspection reference image providing a reference in inspection of a read image; 
 an inspection result acquisition unit implemented by the processing circuitry and configured to acquire a result of a defect determination based on a difference between the generated inspection reference image and the read image; 
 a restriction-on-disclosure process unit implemented by the processing circuitry and configured to change, based on restriction-on-disclosure positional information, which indicates a restricted area in the read image that should be restricted when displayed, a value of a pixel in the restricted area in the read image, when the result of the defect determination indicates that a defect is detected in the read image, to generate a corrected image; and 
 an information transmission unit implemented by the processing circuitry and configured to transmit the corrected image through a network, 
 wherein the restriction-on-disclosure process unit is further configured to maintain the value of the pixel without changing the value of the pixel, when the pixel is included in the restricted area and is determined as the defect. 
 
     
     
       2. The image inspection apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the restriction-on-disclosure process unit is further configured to change a value of a pixel surrounding the pixel in the restricted area, to a value different from a value of the pixel determined as the defect. 
     
     
       3. The image inspection apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the restriction-on-disclosure process unit is further configured to change a value of the pixel surrounding the pixel in the restricted area, to a value of a pixel showing a white color. 
     
     
       4. The image inspection apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the restriction-on-disclosure process unit is further configured to judge a pixel whose pixel spacing with the pixel determined as the defect is below a prescribed threshold value to be a surroundings pixel of the pixel determined as the defect. 
     
     
       5. The image inspection apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the restriction-on-disclosure process unit is further configured to maintain, when the pixel included in the restricted area, based on the information which shows a level of necessity for restriction on disclosure about the restricted area, is determined as the defect, the value of the pixel included in the restricted area, without changing the value of the pixel. 
     
     
       6. An image inspection method for inspecting an image output on a recording medium by scanning the output image as a scanned image, the image inspection method comprising:
 obtaining an output-target image print data, and generating an inspection reference image using the output-target image print data, the inspection reference image providing a reference in inspection of a read image; 
 acquiring a result of a defect determination based on a difference between the generated inspection reference image and the read image; 
 changing, based on restriction-on-disclosure positional information, which indicates a restricted area in the read image that should be restricted when displayed, a value of a pixel in the restricted area in the read image, when the result of the defect determination indicates that a defect is detected in the read image, to generate a corrected image; and 
 transmitting the corrected image through a network, 
 wherein the changing step further comprises maintaining the value of the pixel without changing the value of the pixel, when the pixel is included in the restricted area and is determined as the defect. 
 
     
     
       7. The image inspection method of  claim 6 , wherein the changing step further comprises changing a value of a pixel surrounding the pixel in the restricted area, to a value different from a value of the pixel determined as the defect. 
     
     
       8. The image inspection method of  claim 7 , wherein the changing step further comprises changing a value of the pixel surrounding the pixel in the restricted area, to a value of a pixel showing a white color. 
     
     
       9. The image inspection method of  claim 7 , wherein changing step further comprises judging a pixel whose pixel spacing with the pixel determined as the defect is below a prescribed threshold value to be a surroundings pixel of the pixel determined as the defect. 
     
     
       10. The image inspection method of  claim 7 , wherein the changing step further comprises maintaining, when the pixel included in the restricted area, based on the information which shows a level of necessity for restriction on disclosure about the restricted area, is determined as the defect, the value of the pixel included in the restricted area, without changing the value of the pixel. 
     
     
       11. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a program that, when executed by a computer processor, causes the processor to execute an image inspection method for inspecting an image output on a recording medium by scanning the output image as a scanned image, the image inspection method comprising:
 obtaining an output-target image print data, and generating an inspection reference image using the output-target image print data, the inspection reference image providing a reference in inspection of a read image; 
 acquiring a result of a defect determination based on a difference between the generated inspection reference image and the read image; 
 changing, based on restriction-on-disclosure positional information, which indicates a restricted area in the read image that should be restricted when displayed, a value of a pixel in the restricted area in the read image, when the result of the defect determination indicates that a defect is detected in the read image, to generate a corrected image; and 
 transmitting the corrected image through a network, 
 wherein the changing step further comprises maintaining the value of the pixel without changing the value of the pixel, when the pixel is included in the restricted area and is determined as the defect. 
 
     
     
       12. The computer-readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the changing step further comprises changing a value of a pixel surrounding the pixel in the restricted area, to a value different from a value of the pixel determined as the defect. 
     
     
       13. The computer-readable medium of  claim 12 , wherein the changing step further comprises changing a value of the pixel surrounding the pixel in the restricted area, to a value of a pixel showing a white color. 
     
     
       14. The computer-readable medium of  claim 12 , wherein changing step further comprises judging a pixel whose pixel spacing with the pixel determined as the defect is below a prescribed threshold value to be a surroundings pixel of the pixel determined as the defect. 
     
     
       15. The computer-readable medium of  claim 12 , wherein the changing step further comprises maintaining, when the pixel included in the restricted area, based on the information which shows a level of necessity for restriction on disclosure about the restricted area, is determined as the defect, the value of the pixel included in the restricted area, without changing the value of the pixel.